Jewish Holidays

Chanukah

Understanding what the Greeks had against Kiddush Hachodesh When the moon complained that the sun and moon were the same size, why did it use the analogy of the crown? Why was Rosh Chodesh the first mitzvah given to Bnei Yisrael?

What does it mean when we say in Maoz Tzur that “בני בינה” (men of understanding) were the ones who established the holiday of Chanukah? What is the connection between Yavan and Choshech? Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

Understanding why the Greeks hated Bris Milah and the special significance of “Zos Chanukah”. The concept of eight is intrinsic to milah and milah typefies the number eight. Why does the Torah give a summary of all the korbanot of the Nesi’im? Why do we burn the leftover wicks and oil from the eight nights? […]

When we check the weekly sedrah reading for Shabbas Chanukah (ie the narrative of the sale of Yosef, in the weekly Parshios of Vayeishev, Mikeitz or Vayigash) looking for some prophetic hint or link to the holiday, we find to our surprise a whole host of phrases that sound familiar to us, not related to […]

Kavsah Ein Zakuk Lah – If the Chanukah Candles Go Out There is a machlokes in the Gemara (Shabbos 21a-b) if one is obligated to relight the Chanukah candles in the event that they go out before having burned for the requisite amount of time. Rav Huna holds that you do have to relight them, […]

The 24 days of Kislev correspond to the 24 letters of ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד. The 25th corresponds to The Pasuk of Shema which contains 25 letters. What is the connection between Chanukah and Shema? Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime